Welcome again to my Week 18 version of the Fantasy Baseball Breakout Hitters sequence for the 2024 MLB season! At this time we’ll check out gamers like Nico Hoerner, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Luis Robert Jr., and extra.
We will take our regular look across the league as we head into the weekend to see who’s displaying indicators of some significant traits that may be revealing in some kind or one other. Maybe a hitter is about to interrupt out or on the verge of a chilly spell. Checking in on who’s sizzling (or not) can convey to gentle some notable names. These names then grow to be potential waiver-wire targets or sneaky DFS performs (or avoids) till the remainder of the fantasy group catches on. Julio Rodriguez, Rece Hinds, and Lane Thomas have been a couple of good ones from final week who continued to hit over the weekend earlier than the All-Star break.
Under, we’ll examine in on gamers with the longest hit streaks, highest batting common, and highest ISO during the last seven days, in addition to some regression candidates and extra. Notice that totals are designated by the quantity in parentheses subsequent to the participant’s identify.
Make sure you examine all of our fantasy baseball lineup instruments and weekly lineup assets:
Hit Streak Leaders
Information by means of 7/14
Carlos Correa has the longest present hit streak at 13 video games, going 18-for-51 (.353) over that stretch, together with 5 dwelling runs, however we spoke about his streak final week, so we’ll skip right down to another notable names.
Nico Hoerner (11)
After ending final season hitting .283, Nico Hoerner had a gradual begin to the season, hitting .248 as of the top of June. Hoerner has turned it on July, nevertheless, hitting .296 up to now within the month and is using an 11-game hit streak. The draw back although is that the 27-year-old stole 43 bases final season and 14 up to now in 2024, nevertheless, he has but to steal a base by means of 13 July video games. Fantasy managers needn’t panic although, so long as he continues to get on base, the steals will come.
Nico Hoerner two-run blast offers the Cubs the lead! pic.twitter.com/5jTJLMijNC
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 27, 2024
Juan Yepez (10)
Juan Yepez had a strong 78-game debut in 2022, hitting .253 and belting 12 dwelling runs, however 2023 did not go practically as nicely. He is getting one other shot right here in July with the Nationals, and up to now he is proven nicely, gathering successful in every of his first 10 video games since being recalled, going 14-for-37 (.378) with six doubles and a 6:7 BB:Ok to date. If he comes out of the break persevering with to hit, particularly if he begins hitting lengthy balls, he may grow to be a waiver wire pickup in deeper leagues. The 27-year-old is eligible at each 1B and OF on Yahoo, including to his potential attraction.
juan yepez is aware of what we love …..
BABY SHARK WITH PARRA after his first hit as a nat pic.twitter.com/S4sNydTwpM
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 5, 2024
Highest Batting Common Final Seven Days
Minimal 13 AB, video games by means of 7/14
Since we’re solely trying again per week, the info we’re solely contains 4 video games on account of the All-Star break. Nonetheless, there are some intriguing names right here that may assist fill out a DFS lineup and may be worthwhile provides in redraft leagues.
Mike Yastrzemski (.533)
Okay, you are in all probability not working out so as to add Mike Yastrzemski off the waiver wire, however his final 4 video games earlier than the break have been nice. The 33-year-old went 8-for-15 (.533) with three doubles, a triple, and a house run. The left-handed hitter additionally chipped in three runs and three RBI. The veteran will get an attractive three-game set in opposition to the Rockies in Colorado beginning on Friday, with a very juicy matchup in opposition to LHP Kyle Freeland on Saturday, who he’s 7-for-15 (.467) off of in his profession together with a double and a house run.
Little League Yaz
Mike Yastrzemski triples and scores on a Twins error to win the sport in walk-off vogue! pic.twitter.com/4xXFjrsPA2
— SF Giants Replace (@Giants__Update) July 14, 2024
Ke’Bryan Hayes (.471)
It could be too quickly to declare Ke’Bryan Hayes again, however he is been hitting strong of late. It hasn’t simply been the final 4 video games. Since June 28, he is 19-for-58 (.328). The excellent news? The 27-year-old has additionally stolen three bases since then, giving him eight on the season. His stolen base complete final season (10) was a disappointment after stealing 20 baggage in 2022, so it’s good to see him working once more. The dangerous information? Regardless of the strong hitting these days, most have solely been singles, gathering simply two doubles, no triples, and no dwelling runs because the aforementioned June 28.
Ke’Bryan Hayes is 3-4 right this moment after this double.
LET’S GO.
100.2 MPH exit velocity, .380 xBA pic.twitter.com/rwIfgtdsmq
— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) July 14, 2024
The previous first-round draft decide had a powerful spring (.412) and was a multi-hit machine to start the season, so if he can return to some semblance of that, we’d have the ability to welcome him again into our lineups. Hayes is out there in nearly 70% of leagues for managers searching for a sizzling bat on the sizzling nook (so long as energy is not a requirement).
Highest ISO in Final Seven Days
Minimal 13 AB, video games by means of 7/14
In relation to fantasy, particularly DFS, we need to see energy. Extra large hits imply extra factors. Huge hits normally drive in additional runs, which implies extra factors. Doubles and triples put hitters in a greater place to attain, which implies? You guessed it — extra factors! So, who’s hitting for additional bases over the previous week?
Michael Toglia (1.071)
I find it irresistible when a plan comes collectively! Michael Toglia was talked about as an xSLG underachiever in my Week 16 Breakout Watch article. I am unsure we anticipated this sort of outburst although. Simply earlier than the break, the 25-year-old hit 5 dwelling runs in 4 video games, together with a three-homer recreation. He additionally had one a couple of video games prior, giving him six homers in eight video games. The previous first-rounder now has 16 on the season, so managers in want of energy may take into account including him in redraft leagues, simply comprehend it may cost a little you some batting common (.197) and he is nonetheless solely collected 34 RBI regardless of the HR complete.
Michael Toglia goes deep for his THIRD dwelling run right this moment! pic.twitter.com/v0I9ogxrOl
— MLB (@MLB) July 14, 2024
Honorable Point out: Lawrence Butler (.857)
Lawrence Butler had a Toglia-like surge simply earlier than the break, additionally having a three-homer recreation and 4 dwelling runs in a three-game span. He too is hitting close to the Mendoza Line (.211), nevertheless, so purchaser beware.
Most Steals Final Seven Days
Information as of seven/14
Luis Robert Jr. (3)
You do not want me to inform you about Luis Robert Jr.’s offensive prowess, although the offensive manufacturing hasn’t been as hoped this season, however after stealing a career-high 20 stolen bases final season, it was painful for fantasy managers to see him come into July with solely three. The Cuban stole three bases simply earlier than the break in a two-game span; nevertheless, he is been working because the calendar flipped to July. Eight of the 26-year-old’s 11 steals have are available July, so hopefully that is one thing we see persevering with within the second half, particularly if a few of the different offensive numbers aren’t there.
Honorable point out: Xavier Edwards (3)
xBA Underachiever
Information by means of 7/14, minimal 200 AB
Under are hitters who’ve a few of the greatest variations between their present slugging proportion and their anticipated slugging proportion, or xBA. Whereas many occasions this can be a good train to see who’s on the verge of turning issues round, it isn’t sure. Typically hitters over or underperform their xBA all through their profession, so regression to the xBA might not occur.
Keibert Ruiz (.220 vs. .270)
Keibert Ruiz was considered as a possible sleeper decide at catcher this season after batting .260 with 18 dwelling runs final season, however up to now it has not come to fruition. The catcher is hitting .220 with six homers over 70 video games. The low common has continued regardless of a powerful Contact% of 87.7% and a low 11.3% Ok%. A side-by-side comparability of his Baseball Savant web page (left aspect) and that of Luis Arraez (proper aspect) exhibits some hanging similarities.
I am not saying Ruiz is Arraez and even near him, nevertheless it’s truthful to forecast a batting common north of .220 by season’s finish. The 25-year-old has already began to indicate indicators of a turnaround as nicely, having come into July slashing .203/.243/.295 on the season, however for July he’s slashing .302/.318/.488 with two doubles, two dwelling runs, eight RBI, and only one strikeout in 11 video games (43 AB).
Honorable point out: Christopher Morel (.202 vs. .248)
xBA Overachiever
Information by means of 7/14, minimal 200 AB
We’ll contact on a hitter beneath who may finally cool off. On this case, the BA is far increased than the xBA, and a few regression must be anticipated. Notice that the gamers who’ve proven up on this checklist up to now this season have continued to hit nicely for some time, so do not anticipate them to go ice-cold. Relatively, it is normally extra of a gradual decline.
Connor Wong (.307 vs. .253)
Connor Wong’s identify has proven up on this part earlier than however he continued to hit. That’s, till July. Wong got here into July on a 15-game hit streak, batting .327, and added two video games to the streak firstly of the month, ending with a 17-game hit streak. Since July 4, nevertheless, the backstop is 4-for-26 (.154) with only one extra-base hit (1 HR) and has seen his batting common drop to .307. Whereas that’s nonetheless good, it will be fascinating to see how far it drops. His Contact% is 75.0% in comparison with final yr’s 69.9% and his chase price has gone from 39.2% to 31.4%, so he nonetheless may wind up with a decent BA.
Additionally: Josh Smith (.293 vs. .240)
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